CFS says it never gave money to York strikers

27 November 2008

Yesterday, I pointed out an interesting article in the York University student newspaper stating the Canadian Federation of Students gave $2,500 to CUPE 3903. The following is an email exchange with CFS spokesperson Ian Boyko, who apparently has a problem with the story.

At 19:27 EST, Maclean’s OnCampus received this email:

Joey,

You make several false statements on your web-diary at the following link:

A false statement is also repeated on the main Oncampus page, increasing the harm to our organisation. The Canadian Federation of Students has done nothing you describe in this entry. Please delete it immediately and place the retraction and apology in an equally conspicuous location.

Ian Boyko
Government Relations Coordinator
Canadian Federation of Students

Thank-you for your quick reply. Am I to understand that you have easy access to your entries for retraction this evening?

Each claim made by you about the Canadian Federation of Students and CUPE/CUPE 3903 in the entry (including the title) described in my previous email is false.

On the main Oncampus page, a link to the offending entry repeats your false statements.

Please delete it immediately and place the retraction and apology in equally conspicuous locations (e-diary and front Oncampus page).
Failure on your behalf to act promptly to remove false statements will result in greater damages to the Canadian Federation of Students.

Ian Boyko
Government Relations Coordinator
Canadian Federation of Studentswww.cfs-fcee.ca

We emailed Mr. Boyko this morning at 11:33 EST asking him to be specific, noting that The Excalibur is standing by the article, which remains online:

Mr. Boyko,

The Excalibur is standing by the story and you have not provided me with any details on how the story is wrong.

Could you please be specific: What exactly is inaccurate about The Excalibur story?